[House Document 105-246]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress, 2d Session  - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-246


 
   CERTIFICATION CONCERNING THE PROHIBITION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

  A REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESOLUTION OF ADVICE AND CONSENT TO 
 RATIFICATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE DEVELOPMENT, 
   PROHIBITION, STOCKPILING AND USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND ON THEIR 
 DESTRUCTION, ADOPTED BY THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES ON APRIL 24, 
                                  1997




   April 30, 1998.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the 
     Committee on International Relations and ordered to be printed


To the Congress of the United States:

    In accordance with the resolution of advice and consent to 
ratification of the Convention on the Prohibition of the 
Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical 
Weapons and on Their Destruction, adopted by the Senate of the 
United States on April 24, 1997, I hereby certify in connection 
with Condition (7)(C)(i), Effectiveness of Australia Group, 
that:
          Australia Group members continue to maintain an 
        equally effective or more comprehensive control over 
        the export of toxic chemicals and their precursors, 
        dual-use processing equipment, human, animal and plant 
        pathogens and toxins with potential biological weapons 
        application, and dual-use biological equipment, as that 
        afforded by the Australia Group as of April 25, 1997; 
        and
          The Australia Group remains a viable mechanism for 
        limiting the spread of chemical and biological weapons-
        related materials and technology, and that the 
        effectiveness of the Australia Group has not been 
        undermined by changes in membership, lack of compliance 
        with common export controls and nonproliferation 
        measures, or the weakening of common controls and 
        nonproliferation measures, in force as of April 25, 
        1997.

                                                William J. Clinton.
    The White House, April 29, 1998.


                       Statement of Justification

    Since entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention 
(CWC), the 30-member Australia Group (AG) CBW nonproliferation 
regime has held one plenary meeting. At its October 6-9, 1997 
annual meeting, the AG reaffirmed the members' collective 
belief that full adherence to the CWC and the Biological 
Weapons Convention (BWC) will be the only way to achieve a 
permanent global ban on chemical and biological weapons, and 
that all states adhering to these Conventions must take steps 
to ensure that their national activities support these goals.
    The AG also affirmed that national export licensing 
controls on CBW-related items are necessary for AG members to 
fulfill their obligation under Article I of the CWC and Article 
VI of the BWC for States Parties never to assist, in any way, 
the acquisition, retention, transfer, or use of chemical and 
biological weapons. The United States expects the Australia 
Group to continue to play a key nonproliferation role now that 
the CWC has entered into force.
    At its October 1997 meeting, the AG also agreed to continue 
its active outreach program of briefings for non-AG countries, 
and to promote regional consultations on export controls and 
nonproliferation to further the awareness and understanding of 
national policies in these areas.

                                
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